Abc extinguishes



April 27 1926.

F. E RICKETTS ARC EXTI NGU-I SHER original Filed Mafch 15, 1916 WITNESSES: INVENTOR m/rnm/ Forrest E fil'clretts Reissued Apr. 27, 1926.

Re. 16,338 v UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

FORBES]! E. BICKETTS, OF CATONSVILLE, MARYLAND.

ARC EXTINGUISHER. f

Original No. 1,308,257, dated 1111371,

' a device of the above indicated character "that shall so alternately open and close a circuit interrupter to reduce the voltage of the circuit that the arc will be extinguished without causing the apparatus connected to the circuit to fall out of synchronism. I

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above indicated char-' acter that shall have. means for preventing the automatic opening and closing of the interrupter if the arc is not extinguished Within a predetermined time.

Patent No. 1,201,218, dated October 10, 1916, discloses a device for reducing and restoring the voltage of a generator to extinguish an arc. The device operates upon the principle that an arc will break within a fraction of a second after the voltage has been reduced substantially to zero. While a device of this type operates satisfactorily in a distributing system as a whole, it does not rovide means for independently extinguishmg the arcs in the feeder circuits. In my present invention, I provide a circuit interrupter that is adapted to be opened when a short circuit or an arc occurs, and I further provide means for reclosing the interrupter in accordance with the diflerence in voltage between the respective sides of the interrupter. Since someshort circuits are of a ermanent nature and are not maintained y an arc, I provide means to prevent the continued automatic opening and closing of the interrupter ifthe short circuit persists for. a predetermined time. It has been found that this time should be such that an ordinary arc would be extinguished if the interrupter were permitted to alternatel open and close a predetermined number 0 times.

1919, Serial No. 83,786, filed March 13, 1916. Application for reissue filed Kay 5, 1920. Serial No. 379,146.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view offa distributing system that is provided with an arc-extinguishing means embodying my in vention. a I

A generator 1 supplies energy t o-the main conductors 2, 3 and 4 of a distributing system 5. A feeder circuit6, comprising conductors 7, 8 and 9, is operatively connected between the main distributing circuit 5 and a load 10, such as a motor "or other similar device. The feeder circuit 6 is provided with a circuit interrupter 11 and with series transformers 12, 13 and 14 that are connected to its respective conductors.

- The circuit interrupter 11 is provided with a closinglelectromagnet 15 and a tripping electromagnet 16. The secondary windings of the transformers 12, 13 and'14 are operatively connected to windings 17 and 18 of overload relays 19 and 20 that are provided with movable contact members 21' and 22.

The movable contact members 21 and 22 are 11 is adapted to be tripped when a short circuit occurs across any of the conductors of the feeder circuit 6. I

The primary winding of a transformer 28 is connected across the conductors 3 and 4 of the main circuit 5, and the primary wind ing of a similar transformer 29 is connected across the corresponding conductors 7 and 8 of the feeder circuit 6. Thus, the primary windin of the transformers 28 and 29 are, in reality, connected to the same conductors but are separated by the circuit interrupter 11. The secondary windings of the trans formers 28 and 29 are difl'erentially connected to two conductors 30 and 31 so that, when the circuit interrupter 11 is closed, one of the windings neutralizes the effect of the other, and no current traverses the conducformer 29 will be disconnected from the main circuit while the voltage of the transformer 28 will be substantially normal. Hence, a voltage will be impressed across the'conductors 30 and 31.

The conductor 30 is connected to onestationary contact terminal 32 of a double-pole single-throw switch 33. The corresponding stationary contact terminal 34 of the switch 33 is connected, through a conductor 35, to one terminal of the winding of the electromagnet 15 the other terminal of which is connected to the terminal 27 of the generator 26. The conductor 35 is also connected to the stationary contact terminal 36 of a single-pole double-throw switch 37 the other stationary contact terminal 38 of which is connected, through aconductor 39, to one'terminal of the winding of the electromagnet 16. The movable contact member 40 of the switch 37 is connected to the terminal 25 of the generator 26. The movable contact member 41 of the switch 33 is connected to a stationary contact member 42 of a relay 43, and the remaining movable contact member 44of the switch 33 is connected, through a conductor .45, to one terminal of the winding 46 of a relay 47 and to one termi nal of the winding 48 of a definite timelimit relay 49. The conductor 31 is connected to the other terminal ofthe winding 46 and also to the other terminal of the winding 48 of the relay 49. The other stationary contact member 50 of the relay 43 relay 43 is connected to the stationary eontact member 50, and the other terminal of the winding 51 is connected to the'stationary contact member 52 of the relay 47. The other stationary contact member 53 of the relay 47' isconnected, through a conductor 54, to the terminal 27 of the generator 26. The winding 51 of the relay 43 is adapted to actuate a movable bridging contact member 55 to engage the stationary contact members 42 and50, and the winding 46 of therelay 47 is adapted to actuate. a movable bridging contact member 56 to engage the stationary'contact members 52 and 53.

The relay 49 may be constructed as set forth in Patent No. 1,286,239, dated December 3, 1918, issued to A. W. Copley and B. H. Smith and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, and comprisesa main winding 48, an

auxiliary winding 47 and secondary windings 58. A normally saturated transformer 59 is operatively connected between the windings 57 and 58 in order to cause the armature 60 to rotate at a constant speed irrespective of the energy traversing the winding 48. The armature 60 is mounted on a shaft 61 upon which a movable contact member 62 is also mounted. The movable contact member 62 is adapted to engage a stationary contact member 63 a predetermined time after the winding 48 is energized and is biased to the open position bya resetting spring 65. The contact members 62 and 63 constitute the separable terminals of a winding 64 that is adapted to so co-operate with the movable member of the relay 47 that, when the winding 64 is short circuited, the movable contact member 56 will not engage the stationary contact members 52 and 53. c

When a close circuit, such as an arc, ocours on the feeder circuit 6, sufiicient energy will traverse the windings of the transformers 12, 13 and 14 to cause the movable contact members 21 and 22 of the relays 19 and 20 to engage their respective stationary contact members 23 and24 to complete a circuitfrom one terminal of the generator 26 through the electromagnet 16 to-cause the circuit interrupter 11. to be tripped. \Vhen the circuit interrupter 11 is tripped, the voltage applied to the transformer 29 is reduced due to the short-circuit on the feeder circuit 6, and sufficient voltage will be impressed'across the conductors 30 and 31 to cause the relay 47 to operate. The operation of the relay 47 will effect engagement between its movable contact member '56 and its stationary contact members 52 and 53, and the relay 43. will operateto effect engagement between its stationary contact members 42 and 50 and its movable contact member 55. When the movable contactmember 55 engages the stationary contact members 42 and 50, a circuit will be completed from one terminal of .the generator 26 through the movable contactmember 41 and the stationary contact member 34 of the switch 33, the conductor 35 and the electromagnet 15 tothe other terminal of the generator'26. Thus, the electromagnet 15 will'be energized to close the circuit interrupter 11. Since the time between theopening and closing of the circuit interrupter 11 is relatively short, the motor 10 will not dropout of synchronism. but any are across the conductors of the feeder circuit 6 will be extinguished. However, it the are persists after the circuit interrupter 11 is closed, the'relays 19 and 20 will again operate to so energize the electromagnet lfi-asto trip the circuit interrupter 11, and, when the interrupter 11 is again tripped, the transformers 28 and 29 will again effect the operation of the relays 17 and 43 to immediately close it.

It has been determined that, it the short times. However, if the short circuit is permanent in nature, it is advisable to prerent the automatic alternate opening and closing of the circuit interrupter after the expiration of 'a time period during which the circuit interrupter has opened and closed a predetermined number of times. Thus, the

. ter 11 opens, to actuate the armature 60, and,

[writing the restoration of the'vollage after.

it, been alternately reduced and restored after 'a predetermined time interval, during which the interrupter is successively'opened and closed, the contact member 62 will engage the contact member 63 to close circuit the winding 64 of the relay 47 and thus render the relay 47 inoperative. Consequently, the circuit .interrupter 11 will remain open so long as the winding 64 of the relay 47 remains close circuited..- The re-, lay 47 willthus remain inoperative until the voltage across the winding 48 or the winding 4-6 has been reduced to zero for a sufiicient time period to return the movable contact member 56 to its original position.

. This may be accomplished after the trouble onthe feeder circuit 6 has been cleared by opening the switch 33 and closing the circuit interrupter 11 by' moving the movable contact member 40 of the switch 37 into engagement with its stationary contactterminal 36. Thus, the motor 10 may be disconnected from the main circuit 5 when a permanent short circuit occurs thereon. and when this short circuit has been removed and the circuit interrupter 11 is again closed,

thearc-extinguishing device is in such a position-that it may again operate immediate'ly. Similarly, if the are should be extinguishedbefore the contact member 62.

engages the stationary contact member 63 of the relay 4-9., thecircuit interrupterzll'will remain closed, the motor 10 will continue to operate and the relayswill be in such position as to be operative whenever another short circuit occurs, the relay 49 being restored to normal by the resetting spring 65.

I do not limit my invention to the .partic-" ular devices shown, as many modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a'system of distribution, the combination with an alternating source of=en'-' ergy, a load circuit and synchronous apparatus connected thereto, of means for automatically reducing the voltage of the circuit and for restoring its voltage before the apparatus connected thereto falls out of synchronism, and a time-limit relay for profor apredetermined time period. 7

'2. In .a system of distribution the combination with an alternating source of energy, a load circult and synchronous apparatus connected thereto, of means for automaticall disconnecting the circuit when an arc obtains thereon and for reconnecting the same before the apparatus connected thereto falls out of synchronism, and means for preventing the reconnection after the arc has existed a predetermined time period. 3. In a s'stem of distribution, the combination with a circuit interrupter and means for opening it when an arc obta ns on the system, of a relay for recloslng the mined time period.

4. In a system of'distribution, the combinatlon with a circuit interrupter and means for tripping it when an arc obtains onthe system, of a, relay for reclosing the interrupter, transformers diflercntially connected to the terminals of the interrupter to energize the relay to reclose the interrupter, a definite time-limit relay adapted to prevent the automatic reclosure of the circuit interrupter when the arc persists for a predetermined time period, and means for normally reclosing the circuit interrupter.

5. In a system of distribution, the.combination with a synchronous source of energy, synchronous apparatus energized therefrom and a circuit interrupter therebetween, of means for automatically opening said interrupter and for so quickly reclosing the interrupter that the synchronous apparatus energized therethrough will not fall out of synchronism, and a time-elementrelay energized when said interrupter is open for preventing the reelosing of the interrupter after'it has been opened and reclosed for a predetermined time period.

6. In a system of distribution, the combination with a source of alternating-current energy, synchronous apparatus sup lied thereby and a circuit interrupter t mmbetween, of means for controlling the interrupter-to successively disconnect a portion of the system upon which a fault occurs and reconnect the samebefore the apparatus connected thereto falls out of synchronism, said means being operative for a predetermined interval after the occurrence of a fault and inoperative thereafter to efi'ect the reconnection of the faulty portion of the system.

7. In a service restoring system, the combinationwith a circuit interrupter, overload responsive means for opening the interrupter and means for controlling the reclosure thereof, of timing means for controlling the an electromagnetic relay device embodying a member movable in one direction whenthe 1 relay is energized, a circuit-controlling 'con tact member subject to the influence of the movable member at the end of its path of travel and an auxiliary circuit controlled by the contact member to preclude further reclosures of the interrupter. v

-8. In a service restoring system, the combinationwith a circuit interrupter, overload "responsive means for opening the, inter closurthreof, of timing means for con rupter and means for controlling the re-.

trolling the operation of the reclosingmeans comprising a relay device. embodyingi fi member. movable in one direction when the relay is energized and normally biased to return to aninitial position the interrupter should remain closed after any reclosure effected prior to the relay attaining the end of its path of travel.

9. A service restoring system circuit comprising an interrupter between the load circuit and a supply circuit, means for opening the interrupter upon the occurmined path of travel, during the operation .of which the interrupter may be reelosed a plurality of times if the abnormal conditions in the load circuit persist, and efl'ect'ive after attaining the end of the path of travel to for a load preclude further energization of the closing meansthrough the said switch. 10. A service. restoring system foran electric circuit comprising an interrupter provided with closing and tripping means, overload devices for energizing the tripping 'means, a switch for the closing means and means 'for controlling the efl'ectiveness of said switch comprising a member movable through a predetemined path of travel and energized to'move through said path in one direction when the interrupter opens, said member ,beingefl'ective upon attaining the end of said path of travel to preclude further effectiveness of said closing switch and being also normally biased. toreturn to its initial position if the interrupter be reclosed and remain in closed position.

11. In a service restoring system, the combination, with a circuit-mterrupter, overload responsive means for opening the intcr-; rupter and means for] controlling the re- "closure thereof, of timing means 'for controlling the operation of the reclosing means comprising a relay device embodying a. member movable in one direction whenthe relay is energized and means for returning said member to an. initial position if the interruptershould remain closed after any reclosure effected prior to the relay attain: ing the end of its path of travel.

In testimony. whereof, I have hereunto subscribed -n1y FORREST ,RICKETTS.

name this 16th day of ApriI 

